| Largidae ~ Largid Bugs |
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A small family with one very common representative in our area, the largid bugs are also sometimes called Bordered Plant Bugs. Largus species is usually found on plant foliage but sometimes the nymphs congregate on fruits such as those of lantana. The nymphs are often gregarious and easily noticed because they are a metallic blue-black. Very young nymphs look like beetles, with their shiny rounded abdomens. Older nymphs have a bright red spot in the middle of their backs. The nymphs look nothing like the adults, except that they have black legs. The adults are up to 13 mm in length and are a dull gray mottled color, with dark wing membranes and orange edges to their bodies. There is a second, less common Largus species, or perhaps a distinct variety of the same one, that is darker, with legs that are orange towards the body instead of all black. The shape of largid bugs makes them look somewhat like members of the family Rhopalidae but their colors are distinctive.
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